NHL Roundup: Jagr becomes seventh NHL player with 700 goals

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Jaromir Jagr became the seventh player to score 700 NHL goals, reaching the mark as the New Jersey Devils routed the New York Islanders 6-1 on Saturday.

The New Jersey forward moved into this elite group when he netted his 19th goal of the season. The Islanders have been Jagr’s favorite target in his 20 NHL seasons. He has 61 goals and 88 assists in 101 career games.

“Is it that many? I love this team,” Jagr said. “It’s my favorite team. That’s a lot of goals. It’s almost 10 percent.”

Jagr stickhandled from the right wing boards into the slot and then slid a shot along the ice that eluded New York goalie Evgeni Nabokov at 3:31 of the second to give New Jersey a 2-0 lead.

The 42-year-old Jagr was surrounded by his teammates on the ice with him and skated across the front of the bench, patting gloves along the way. He received a nice ovation from the crowd when his milestone was announced.

“Well they knew I scored 61 goals against them,” he said with a laugh.

The Czech Republic Olympian is only eight goals behind Mike Gartner, who is sixth on the NHL career list. Wayne Gretzky holds the record of 894. Jagr is seventh in career points with 1,740.

CAPITALS 4, BRUINS 2

BOSTON – Alex Ovechkin collected his 800th career point and raised his league-leading total to 43 goals with a pair of power-play scores, leading Washington over Boston.

Joel Ward and Eric Fehr also scored, and Braden Holtby made 36 saves for the Capitals, who won their fourth straight in their chase for one of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spots.

Ovechkin had the go-ahead goal and two assists in a 5-4 win at Florida on Thursday. It’s his first season of 40-plus goals since collecting 40-plus in his first five seasons from 2005-06 to 2009-10.

Patrice Bergeron and Shawn Thornton had Boston’s goals. Tuukka Rask stopped 27 shots in his first start since winning the bronze medal with Finland at the Sochi Olympics.

BLACKHAWKS 5, PENGUINS 1

CHICAGO – Jonathan Toews had two goals and an assist at a snowy and picturesque Soldier Field, and the Blackhawks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in the finale of the NHL Stadium Series.

Patrick Sharp scored in the first period and Patrick Kane set up Kris Versteeg’s 100th career goal in the second, helping Chicago to its first win since Feb. 5 at Anaheim. The reigning Stanley Cup champions dropped their final game before the Olympic break, and then lost 2-1 at the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

James Neal was credited with Pittsburgh’s only goal when Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook sent the puck into his own net at 6:21 of the third. Marc-Andre Fleury had 35 saves in the Penguins’ third straight loss, matching a season high.

BLUE JACKETS 6, PANTHERS 3

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Artem Anisimov scored a short-handed goal late in the second period and Columbus’ special teams provided four goals in the Blue Jackets’ win over the Florida.

David Savard, Cam Atkinson and R.J. Umberger added power-play goals — the Blue Jackets were 3 for 4 with a man advantage — while Jack Johnson had three assists. Savard also had an assist.

Shawn Mathias and Nick Bjugstad each had a goal and an assist, and Sean Bergenheim also scored for the Panthers.

KINGS 3, HURRICANES 1

LOS ANGELES – Alec Martinez scored the tiebreaking goal on a power play with 11:45 to play, Jonathan Quick made 24 saves, and Los Angeles beat Carolina for its third victory in four days since the Olympic break.

Mike Richards scored his second goal since Thanksgiving and Justin Williams added an empty-net goal for the Kings, who roared out of the break with three wins in three cities in about 70 hours. Low-scoring Los Angeles put up eight goals at Colorado and Calgary before holding off the Hurricanes in the Kings’ return to Staples Center.

Andrej Sekera scored and Anton Khudobin stopped 28 shots for the Hurricanes, who have lost three straight on their five-game road trip out of the break.